The Blackbirds were coming off of 7-0 win in which the other team had a hard time even getting it across the midfield line so we were on a roll.
This past Saturday we found ourselves down two players (one because of injury and the other because of a personal matter). That left with five players. It didn't matter. The game quickly got out of hand as we came out with an 11-2 victory. I knew it was going to be a loo loo when one of our players said before the game, "When the crowd starts cheering, that's when I heat up!"
It got to a point where the other team sent an additional player on the field but it didn't matter. I tried to get our guys to back off but being 7 year olds, they didn't really know how to back off. I actually want to spend some time this week during practice to explain to them why we need to back off.
Actually, some of the opposing team's players started saying to our guys that they hated us and one of their players even said, "Bad game," to one of our guys during the handshake. While I don't condone those things being said, I understand what drove them to say these things as they were frustrated and upset. It's a good lesson in sportsmanship for both teams. I said going into this that the two biggest lessons for these kids to take away are teamwork and sportsmanship and hopefully they can learn a few soccer skills and have fun along the way. I was actually disappointed with our kids for not listening to me and backing off but I understand that they are young and don't realize that they are beating the other team down. Again, all the more reason that I want to spend some time this week explaining to them why that type of victory isn't appropriate.
Still, I'm glad to be on the winning side of that beat down and GO BLACKBIRDS!!!
2 comments:
It is tough to have players pull their foot off the gas at that age. Especially when league scoring records are on the line.
I know you were probably huddling up and telling your guys to really let them have it. THERE IS NO FEAR IN THIS DOJO! THERE IS NO MERCY IN THIS DOJO!
Growing up I was on both sides of those types of games but it rolls off. When your guys take a beating at some point in the future, hopefully they will be good sports.
You're right. When the score was 8-1, I called timeout and huddled our team and yelled that they go for the jugular to finish the team and make sure we left them to remember for the rest of their days the day they played the BLACKBIRDS!!!!
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